Steady spatially-periodic eutectic growth with the effect of triple point in directional solidification

The present paper investigates steady spatially periodic eutectic growth during directional solidification with isotropic surface tension in terms of analytical approach. We consider the case when the Péclet number ∊ is small and the segregation coefficient κ is close to unit, and obtain a family of the global, steady-state solutions with two free parameters: the tilt angle φ and the Péclet number ∊. The corresponding interfacial patterns of the steady states are spatially periodic, and may be tilted or non-tilted. The results show that near the triple point, there is a boundary layer O∊12 thick, where the isotropic surface tension plays a significant role, the slope and curvature of interface may be very large and the undercooling temperatures of interface may have a noticeable non-uniformity. Quantitative comparisons between theoretical predictions and recent experimental data are made without making any adjustments to parameters, and show good agreement.